Days after Noor Jehan, a 17-year-old elephant at Pakistan’s Karachi Zoo, fell into a pond in a small enclosure, the authorities have formed a committee to take care of the ailing animal. The nine-member committee, headed by the Karachi Administrator Dr Syed Saifur Rahman, will submit suggestions and recommendations for the well-being and welfare of the elephant’s treatment.
In a statement released on Monday, Dr Rahman expressed appreciation for the efforts made by any side for the welfare of the animals. He confirmed that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is making all possible efforts for the speedy recovery of Noor Jehan and is in contact with the experts of Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization, via video link. He also stated that the measures recommended by Four Paws for the elephant’s recovery have been fully implemented.
Four Paws, a team of veterinarians headed by Dr Amir Khalil, had arrived in Karachi earlier this month at the request of the KMC to treat Noor Jehan. The team has successfully operated on the elephant and conducted various tests, revealing that she is suffering from a large hematoma, or a pool of clotted blood, in her abdomen, in addition to intestinal issues.
After the fall, Four Paws recommended lifting Noor Jehan with a crane, ropes, and belts. She has since been lying visibly weak with limited motion on a mound of sand, propped up against the only tree inside the enclosure.
Dr Rahman said that the committee formed for the elephant’s care includes the Director of Reveal and Response from Four Paws International, Dr Amir Khalil, and other experts in the field. He further added that the KMC is making all possible efforts for the care and better health of the other animals at the zoo.
The process of care is ongoing, and the doctors and other staff concerned with the zoo have been instructed to arrange whatever is needed for Noor Jehan’s treatment as soon as possible. Dr Rahman confirmed that Four Paws has been contacted again for the treatment of Noor Jehan and asked to come to Pakistan once again.
Meanwhile, Four Paws’ legal consultant Owais Awan said that they are thankful to the zoo management who have been taking care of the elephant around the clock for the past four days. He said that they will not give up on her, and her condition is now improving. Awan added that they do not know how the animal fell, but she is not giving up, and neither will they.
The health of the animals kept at the Karachi Zoo is a top priority, said Dr Rahman, and everything possible is being done to take care of the animals, including birds, caged at the zoo. The situation has garnered international attention, and many animal lovers worldwide are following Noor Jehan’s progress and hoping for her swift recovery.
